Button fastening machine



Nov. 26, 1935. w ELLLOTT 2,022,277.

BUTTON FASTENING MACHINE Filed March 14. 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet l NOV. 26,1935. w ELLIOTT 2,022,277

BUTTON FASTENING MACHINE w. E. ELLIOTT 2,022,277

Filed March 14, 1932 III I I261 '28 I56 7| I I as as giant-84 IIs g us66 I57 I2I v l4 lia 7a NW. 2%, 1935. w; E, E'Lmw I 2,022,277

BUTTON FASTENING MACHQINE Filed March 14, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 An a,

Patented Nov. 26, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BUTTON FASTENINGMACHINE Application March 14, 1932, Serial No. 598,624

17 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for fastening, preferably bystitching, buttons, preferably the ordinary shoe button type, to desiredarticles such as shoes. The invention is preferably embodied in amachine of the general type shown in the patent to Sullivan et al., No.1,149,474, August 10, 1915.

The object of the invention is to provide novel means for adjusting thesize of the passageway from the hopper and in the button-feeding chuteof the machine.

The object of the invention is further to provide novel means foreffecting the operation of the gripping and releasing of the buttoncarried by the button carrier.

The object of the invention is further to provide novel means formaintaining the relation between the button-feeding chute and the buttoncarrier for different sizes of buttons;

The object of the invention is further to provide means for preventingthe starting of the machine if a button is not transferred from thechute by the button carrier upon the operation of the carrier.

The object of the invention is further to pro vide means for preventingthe starting of the cycle of operation of the machine if the buttoncarrier moves beyond button-fastening position.

The object of the invention is further to provide means for insuring thepassage of the buttons down the button feeding chute.

The object of the invention is further to provide novel means foradjusting the throw of the vibrating needle bar'employed for fasteningthe button thus to vary the length of bar formed by the stitchingmechanism.

The object of the invention is further to provide means for enabling themachine to be utilized for barring work.

'These and other objects and features of the invention will appear morefully from the accompanying description and drawings and will beparticularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a rear elevation of a machine of the type referred to,together with preferred forms of the various features of this inventionembodied therein.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the machine frame and many of the elementsof the machine.

Fig. 3 is a rear'elevation of certain elements of the machine detachedtherefrom with the parts shown in full lines with the machine stopped.

shown in a different position,

" 8-8 of Fig. 7. r

Fig. 9 is a view in'vertical cross section shOw- 10 ing the rolls 33 andthe end of the cam 32 00- operating therewith.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the cam 32.

Fig. 11 is a rear elevation showing the mechanism for operating thebutton agitator.

Fig. 12 is a view in cross section taken transversely of Fig. 11 to showthe operation of the agitator.

Fig. 13 is a detail in end elevation of the construction enabling themachine to perform barring work.

Fig. 14 is a detail in plan of the end of the connecting rod.

The general construction of the machine is similar to that shown in theaforesaid patent to Sullivan et al. and is of a type well known in theart so that it is only necessary here to describe in detail a preferredembodiment of those features with which the present invention isparticularly concerned.

The machine comprises a suitable frame having the hollow standard I, thelaterally extending tubular work supporting arm 2, and the overhangingbracket arm 3 with its head 4. The needle frame 5 is mounted to swing onvertical u5 pivots in the head and carries the usual reciprocatingneedle bar and needle cooperating with the shuttle or other looper inthe work support to form the bar by means of which the button is securedto the work. The presser bar 6 is mounted in the head 4, carries at itslower end the presser foot 1 and is pressed down into working positionby the usual spring 8. The presser foot including the button shankguideway 9 is of the usual construction to receive and guide the :5button into button-fastening position.

The button hopper I!) which contains the supply of buttons is mountedupon the top of the bracket arm 3 and presents at the side the dischargeaperture H leading into the upper end of the button chute by which thebuttons are conveyed from the hopper to the button guideway of thepresser foot. This button chute comprises the two parallel flat platesl2 and I3, the plate l2 being slotted at M to receive the button shanksand the two plates being separated sufficiently to provide for thepassage of the button heads therebetween. The plate i2 near its upperportion is secured to a bracket i5, in turn secured to the bracket arm 3and adjacent its lower end to a bracket i6 mounted from the head i. Thebuttons which are shown as of the ordinary shoe button type having theheads I1 and shanks l8 pass from the hopper through the opening I withthe shanks riding in the slot is which continues into the slot M of theplate i2 and with the heads riding against a cap plate 2i! having aflexible strip 2! connecting it with the plate l3. While the buttons maybe of various shapes, they are shown as of the roll type and the slot inthe hopper and in the button chute is rounded at the edges to enable aportion of the button as well as the shank to ride freely therein. Inorder to provide for buttons of different sizes, it is necessary thatthe plate i3 shall be accurately adjusted toward and from the plate i2and that the cap plate 2% shall correspondingly be adjusted toward andfrom the bottom of the hopper. One feature of the invention providesmeans for effecting these adjustments. vAt the upper end of the chute abracket 22 is secured to the arm 3 and terminates in a base plate 23parallel with the chute. The cap plate 29 is carried by a verticalplunger 24 mounted in a casing 25 secured to the side of the hopper i9and yieldingly pressed downward by the spring 26 in the casing. The capplate 20 is extended rearward and down" ward and carries in itsdepending portion a stud 2i. At its front end this stud rides in avertical slot 28 in the base plate 23 and at its rearward end isprovided with an anti-friction roller 29. A stud 30 is secured at itsinner end to the plate l3 and extends through the base plate 23. Ahelical spring 3| on the stud between the base plate 23 and the'plate I3acts to press the latter inward or toward the plate i2. At the rear ofthe base plate 23 a cam 32 shown separately in Fig. 10 is journalled onthe stud 3G and cooperates with follower rolls 33, see Fig. 9,journalled on a shaft 34 extending diametrically through the stud 38.The cam '32 is secured in a sleeve 35 and this sleeve is provided with acam 36 engaging the roller Consequently by rotating the sleeve 35 thefollower rolls 33 cooperating with the cam 32 in conjunction with thespring 3i enables the plate 53. accurately to be adjusted toward andfrom the plate l2, while at the same time the cam 36 cooperating withthe roller 29 in conjunction with the spring 2% simultaneously andcorrespondingly adjusts the cap plate 28 toward or from the bottom ofthe hopper, with the flexible strip yielding as required. An accuratemeans for rotating the sleeve 35 and indicating its position ofadjustment is provided. The base plate 23 is extended to present asubstantially circular section 3'! and in this section is journalled ashaft carrying adjacent the base plate a pointer 38 and a pinion 3-9 andcarrying at its outer end a knurled head 4%. The pinion 39 meshes with agear M on the sleeve 35. The pointer 38 is shown as provided with a pin42 adapted to fit in any of the series of holes 43 formed in the edge ofthe section 3? of the base plate and the shaft carrying the pointer, thepinion 35, and the knurled head ii! is movable outward sufficiently toengage and disengage the pin 42 and is yieldingly pressed inward. Asimilar construction to that described is provided for the lower end ofthe chute and therefore needs no detailed description. The base platewith the circular section 4:3 is secured to the bracket 96 and carriesthe shaft with the knurled head 55 and the stud 45 and sleeve 47corresponding to the parts 49, 30, and 35 at the upper end of the chute.Thus by operating the knurled heads if! and 45 the required adjustmentof the button chute for buttons of different size is very accuratelymade and indicated and the parts locked in adjusted position.

It is important that the buttons shall pass continuously and freely outof the hopper into and down the button chute. Suitable means, such asshown, for example, in the aforesaid patent to Sullivan et al., providefor such passage of the buttons from the hopper into the chute. Afeature of the present invention provides means for insuring the desiredpassage of the buttons down the chute. For this purpose the plate I3 isprovided substantially throughout its length in line with the path ofthe button heads with a slot 58, see Figs. 11 and 12, and a series ofpreferably yielding fingers are mounted and operated to moveperiodically through the slot and into and out of engagement with thebutton heads thus to jar or agitate the buttons, prevent their stickingin the chute and insure their proper :noveinent down the chute. In thepreferred construction illustrated, a bar is extending beneath andparallel with the chute is secured to a pair of arms pivotally mountedon lugs 5i extending downward from the plate E2 or its support. A seriesof spring fingers shown as made of flat metal are secured to the bar 45)and are curved at their upper ends so that as the bar swings on itspivots, the ends of these fingers pass through the slot 48 and agitatethe buttons by yieldingly en aging with and disengaging therefrom. Thisbutton-agitating means is operated periodically. For that purpose aspring 53 surrounding one of the pivots of the bar acts to swing the barinto the position shown in Fig. 12 with the fingers 52 disengaged fromthe buttons. One of the arms 59 supporting the bar 68 is extended pastits pivot as at 54 to form an operating lever. A lug 55 on this leverengages the bracket 55 to limit the movement of the agitating device inopposition to the spring 53. The arm is connected by a link to one endof a lever 55? fulcrumed at on an arm 5% secured to the plate i?. or itssupport i5. opposite end of the lever 53 pivotally connected at it to alever iii iulcrumed at on a curved arm 63 which is pivotally mounted at54 from the plate i2 or its support. In the specific construction hereillustrated, a lever 65, later to be described, has mounted at its freeend a roll 6% and the lever is provided with the oppositely be eledfaces cooperating therewith so that as the lever is swung in eitherdire-c tion, the lever 35 i moved endwise with its fulcrum carri d aboutthe pivot 55 and the lever 53 is therefore rocked thus through theconnections described the agitator compri r the bar 39 and the springfingers all are swung into button-engaging position. The periodiceration of the lever may be secured by any suitable means butpreferably, as will hereinafter be set for-1h, p e each time the machineis started and it stopped.

The buttons transf r end of the button chute to th raceway in resserfoot and placed position mechanism generally similar to' that of theaioresaid Sullivan et a1. patent. The reciproce in" button carrier 66pivotally supported at E3 on cm the lower the arm 19 and at H on therock lever I2, the arm "I9 being pivoted at I3 and the lever 12 beingfulcrumed at It on the machine frame. The button carrier is providedwith the usual button-gripping rock lever I yieldingly pressed intobutton-gripping position but in this case swung to open position bynovel means. The lower end of the plate 53 of the button chute isprovided with a laterally projecting cam I6, see Fig. 3, and the rocklever is provided with a roll TI cooperating therewith so that as thebutton carrier passes through its cycle of movement, the rollcooperating with the cam causes the rock lever to swing in opposition toits spring to grip and release the-button as required. Since the cam I6is mounted on the plate I3 of the button chute, it is adjusted'therewithtoward and from the plate I2 of the chute and consequently the rocklever is simultaneously adjusted as required by the button size. Thegeneral operation of the'button carrier with the adjustable stop collar73 limiting the endwise movement, the stop shoulder 19 of the presserfoot and the giveway connection including the two-part connecting rod 89and Bi extending to the lever l2, the latch lever 82, the shoulderedthrust collar 93 and the connecting spring 84 needs no furtherdescription at this point except that the tripping stud 85 on the frameis fixed, while the set screw 86 in the latch. lever 82 cooperatingtherewith is adjustable. This mechanism, however, involves a furtherfeature of the invention which will hereinafter be described.

The main shaft 81 of the machine is of the usual type provided with thefast pulley 88 and stopping'cam 89 and with the loose pulley 99. Thisshaft, in the present form of construction, is provided with a worm 9!meshing with a worm Wheel 92 on a transverse shaft 93. The main shaftalso is suitably connected to operate the transverse rock shaft 9 bywhich the needle bar frame 5 is vibrated to produce the barrequired forfastening the button. A further feature'of the invention resides in themeans for providing an adjustable connection for jogging or vibratingthis needle frame soas to produce a bar of any desired length withoutdisturbing the position of the needle with respect to the eye of thebutton. For this purpose a rock arm 95 is secured to and extends upwardfrom the'shaft 94 and has adjustably mounted thereon a plate 99. Thisplate is provided with a rib riding in an arcuate groove 91 of the arm95. The connecting rod 98 is connected by a'universal, joint 99 to theneedle bar frame at its opposite end by a universal joint 3% to theplate 96. The center of curvature of'the groove 91 is at the joint 99 sothat whatever may be the adjust d position of the plate 99, andconsequently what ever may be the length of the bar formed, theneedle'will always be centered at one end at the button eye. The plate99 is provided with a rack ture of the present invention resides inmeans for preventing sufficient depression'of thestarting I treadle tostart the machine in case'no button fastening operation.

is carried into fastening position by the button carrier-means are alsoprovided to raise the starting treadle positively into non-startingposition if the treadle is inadvertently heid down by the operator atthe conclusion of a button- In a preferred embodiment of these featuresof the invention, themain elementsfor controlling the starting andstopping of the machine which are disclosed in the aforesaid patent toSullivan et al. are associated with additional elements by means ofwhich the desired results are secured and it is therefore necessary onlyto describe in detail the addiper end with the cam 89, the thrust collarI ll] adjustably secured on the plunger rod, the spring III normallyforcing the stop lever laterally against the cam 89, the bell cranklever II2 fulcrumed on the frame at H3 with its follower H4 cooperatingwith the face H5 and the notch H6 of a cam HI secured to the shaft 93and driven step by step from the main shaft, the connection at H8between the bell crank lever H2 and the arm H9 of the stop lever I94,the lever I29 fulcrumed at I2I and engaging the lug I22 on the presserbar 6, the rock lever I23 fulcrumed at 24 having at one end the'forkedconnection with the lever I29 and carrying at the other end thespring-pressed plunger pin I25 cooperating with the thrust collar II 9,the spring I26 depressing the free end of the rock'lever I 23 are allshown as constructedand co-acting substantially as in the aforesaidpatent to Sullivan et al.

In the further preferred embodiment of the invention the rod I2'Iextending downward to the starting treadle is hooked over a stud I28 onthe free end of an arm I29 pivoted at I30 on the machine frame andnormally pressed upward by the spring I3I on the rod I32, which rod ispivoted at its upper end to the arm I29 and slides at its lower endthrough a lug I33 on the machine frame and carries a collar 63 5 withthe spring seated between the lug I33 and this collar. The movement ofthe arm I29 is limited in an upward direction by a stop lug I35 and in adownward direction by a stop lug I36 on the frame. A bell crank lever I31 is fulcrumed on a stud I38 aligned with the fulcrum I95 of thevibratory stop lever. One arm I39 of this bell crank lever dependsdownward and is pivotally connected at I49 to the part 89 of theconnecting rod which operates the button carrier 68. The other arm I4Iextends above the arm I29. A link I 42 is pivoted at I 43 to the arm MIand is provided with a slot Md fitting over a stud Hi5 projecting fromthe arm I29. The end of the arm I ti of the bell crank lever is providedwith the bifurcations hit and M1 straddling a stud I48 in the end of thearm I I9 of the vibratory stop lever.

The general operation of the foregoing mechanism will readily beapparent. Atthe begirning of the cycle of operations the machine isstopped with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 3. The belt is onthe loose pulley 99, the

follower H4 is in the notch are of the cam Ill,

the plunger I98 of the vibratory stop lever is raised and locked'bythecam 89, the presser'bar is held elevated by the collar M9, the armI29 to which the starting treadle is connected is against the stop I35,the lower bifurcation I il of the bell crank lever I31 is engaging thestud I48 on the stop lever and the button carrier 68 is retracted. Whennow the operator depresses the treadle, the arm I29 swings downward,swinging with it the bell crank lever I3! until the bifurcation I45engages the stud I48 on the vibratory stop lever. This period ofmovement is sufficient to cause the bell crank lever I3I through thedescribed connections to project the button carrier 68 until the buttonis carried into fastening position in the presser foot guideway or untilthe collar I8 engages the frame. As the depression of the treadlecontinues rocking the bell crank lever I31, the connection between theparts BI) and 8| of the connecting rod gives way and the bifurcation I46 in engagement with the stud I48 rocks the vibratory stop lever on itsfulcrum I95 simultaneously releasing the presser foot, swinging the bellcrank lever II2 to carry its follower II4 out of the notch H5 in the camII'I, releasing the plunger rod I98 from the cam 89, and shifting thebelt onto the fast pulley 88, thus starting the machine in its cycle ofoperations with the parts in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 4.The operator then removes his foot from the treadle and the arm I29under the influence of the spring I3I moves into its uppermost positionagainst the stop I32, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4. The face II5of the cam II'I now holds the parts in working position and theoperation of the machine continues until the follower II4 again dropsinto the notch I I6 which allows the spring II I to act and causes themachine to stop in the well known manner.

But it may happen that for one reason or another a button has not beencarried by the button carrier into button fastening position when theoperator depresses the treadle and it is desirable that the machineshould not go through its cycle of operations if this has occurred. Thepresent invention provides for preventing such an occurrence. In theconstruction illustrated a safety lever I49 is fulcrumed at I50 on theframe to swing in a horizontal plane and projects through the frame onsuch a level that when swung beneath the end of the arm I29 it willengage with and stop the downward motion of the arm I29 before, throughthe link I42, the bell crank lever I31 has been rocked to start themachine. The inner arm I5I of this lever I49 extends over the buttoncarrier 68 in the path of a lug I52 carried by a collar I53 adjustablysecured to the buttoncarrier 68. The collars I8 and I53 are so adjustedthat if a button is present in the button carrier, as shown in Fig. 6,and is carried by the button carrier against the stop shoulder I9 intobuttonfasten-.

ing position, the lug I52 will not be carried far enough to engage thearm I5I and there will be no movement of the safety lever and it willremain in the position shown in Fig. 6 and out of the path of the armI29. If, however, no button is present in the button carrier, themovement of the button carrier 68 will continue past the positionnecessary to bring the button into fastening position and until thecollar I8 engages the machine frame. This movement of the button carrierbeyond button-fastening position causes the lug I52 to engage the armI5! of the safety lever and to move the safety lever into the positionshown in dotted lines in Fig. 6 so that as the operator continues todepress the treadle the arm I29 will engage the lever I49 and be lockedagainst further downward movement, thus preventing the starting of themachine. A spring with the arm IEI.

I54 on the fulcrum I50 acts to hold the safety lever in normal position.It will thus be seen that it is impossible for the operator bydepressing the treadle to start the machine in operation if for anyreason the button carrier fails to trans- 5 fer a button from the chuteinto button-fastening position.

It not infrequently happens that the operator inadvertently retains hisfoot on the starting treadle so that the machine fails to stop at the 10conclusion of a cycle of movement and thus repeats the button-fasteningoperation upon the same button. The present invention prevents such ahappening and this feature is embodied in a simple and preferredconstruction illustrated. A lever, which is preferably the lever 65already described, is fulcrumed at I55 on the machine frame and has aforked end I56 engaging a stud on the arm I29 which may be the stud I45.This lever near its opposite end is provided with a follower roll I51 inthe path of a wiper cam I58 secured to the shaft 93. This wiper cam isso positioned that before the notch IIB comes opposite the follower N4of the controlling lever II2, it will engage and depress the free end ofthe lever 65 and thus force upward the arm I29 and the treadle connectedthereto. Consequently it is impossible for the treadle to be held downwhen the machine completes its cycle of movement. In this connection itwill be noted that 30 since the lever 55 is connected to the arm I29, itwill be rocked back and forth both when the cycle of operation of themachine is started and when it is concluded, so that the button agitatoris vibrated twice on each occasion.

Suitable means are also provided to enable the machine conveniently tobe utilized in performing barring work when, as illustrated, the buttonfastening operation is a stitching operation. To enable the machine tobe utilized for this purpose, it'is necessary to provide means whichwill allow the operation of the machine without buttons being fed. Inthe construction already described, if a button is not carried by thebutton carrier into button-fastening position, the button carriercontinues past the position necessary to bring the button into fasteningposition and the safety lever I49. moves into position beneath the armI29 so that it is impossible for the operator to start the machine.Means are therefore here provided to prevent the safety lever I49 frommoving beneath the arm I29 when no button is carried to buttonfasteningposition and it is desired to operate the machine for barring. Asillustrated, the part 8| of the connecting rod has adjustably mounted onits free end a hook I59 held in place by set screws I60 passing througha slot therein. An arm I6'I is mounted on a stud I52 on the machineframe and projects adjacent the path of 60 the connecting rod 8| beingnotched at its free end to permit the free movement of the hook I59there past. A second arm I53 provided with a handle I64 is mounted topivot and slide longitudinally on the stud I92 and is provided with a 65small stud I65 entering one of two holes I69 in the arm IBI so that thisarm I93 may be retained either in the position shown in full lines inFig. 13 or in an elevated position parallel When the arm IE3 is in its70 lower position shown in Fig. 13, it does not interfere in any waywith the operation of the machine as already described. If it is desiredto do barring work, this arni IE3 is shifted to its upper positionparallel with the arm ISI and thus its free end. is brought into thepath of the hook I59 on the connecting rod 8] and the parts are soadjusted that when the arm I63 is in this position, the button carrier68 cannot move beyond button-fastening position, but will remain in thatposition and the safety lever I49 will therefore not interfere with thefree downward. movement of the arm I29. Consequently all that it isnecessary to do to enable the machine to be used for performing barringwork is to shift the arm I63 into its upper position.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. A button-fastening machine comprising button-fastening means, a chuteinclined downward and comprising two parallel plates between which thebutton heads are fed downward toward button-fastening position, a barhaving secured thereto a series of yielding fingers, and means forvibrating the said bar at predetermined times in the operation of themachine to cause the said fingers to move into and out of the chute andyieldingly to engage and disengage the buttons.

2. A button-fastening machine comprising a frame, button-fasteningmeans, .a hopper above the button-fastening means to contain the supplyof buttons, a chute comprising two parallel plates between which thebutton heads pass inclined downward from the hopper toward thebutton-fastening means, a cap plate covering the button passage from thehopper into the chute, means for simultaneously adjusting the cap platevertically and one of the chute plates laterally to conform to the sizeof the buttons fed and a flexible strip connecting the cap plate and theadjustable chute plate forming one wall of the passageway from thehopper to the chute.

3. A button-fastening machine comprising a frame, button-fasteningmeans, a hopper above the button-fastening means to contain the supplyof buttons, a chute comprising two parallel plates between which thebutton heads pass inclined downward from the hopper toward thebutton-fastening means, a cap plate covering the button passage from thehopper into the chute, and means for simultaneously adjusting the capplate vertically and one of the chute plates laterally to conform to thesize of the buttons fed in which the said adjusting means comprises twocams, one for adjusting the cap plate and th other for adjusting thechute plate.

4. A button-fastening machine comprising a frame, button-fasteningmeans, a hopper above the button-fastening means to contain the supplyof buttons, a chute comprising two parallel plates between which thebutton heads pass inclined downward from the hopper toward thebutton-fastening means, a cap plate covering the button passage from thehopper into the chute, means for simultaneously adjusting the cap platevertically andone of the chute plates laterally to conform to the sizeof the buttons fed and means for indicating the adjusted position of thecap plate and the chute plate.

5. A button-fastening machine comprising button-fastening means, .achute comprising two plates between which the button heads pass inclineddownward toward the button-fastening means, a reciprocating buttoncarrier for conveying a button from the chute to fastening position, thesaid carrier including a button-gripping rock lever, a cam on said chuteand a follower on said lever cooperating to effect the gripping andreleasing of the button through the movement of the carrier.

6. 'A button-fastening machine comprising the construction defined inclaim 5, together with means for adjusting the chute plate carrying thesaid cam toward and from the other plate to adjustthe chute to the sizeof button heads being fed and to maintain the proper cooperativerelation between the button chute and the carrier.

7. A button-fastening machine comprising button-fastening mechanism, abutton-feeding chute, a button carrier for transferring the button fromthe chute to the button-fastening mechanism, means for operating thecarrier and starting the machine on its cycle of operation, and meansfor preventing the starting of the machine if a button is nottransferred from the chute by the carrier upon the operation of thecarrier,

8. A button-fastening machine comprising button-fastening mechanism, abutton-feeding chute, a button-carrier for transferring the button fromthe chute to the button-fastening mechanism, means for operating thecarrier and starting the machine on its cycle of operation, and meansfor preventing the starting of the machine if the button carrier whenoperated passes beyond button-fastening position.

9. A buttonfastening machine comprising button-fastening mechanism, abutton-feeding chute, a button carrier for transferring the button fromthe chute to the button-fastening mechanism, a treadle, means actingupon the depression of the treadle to move the button carrier tobutton-fastening position and then to start the machine on its cycle ofoperation, and a latch moved by the carrier and acting, if the carriermoves beyond button-fastening position, to lock the treadle againstdepression sufiiciently to start the machine.

10. A button-fastening machine comprising button-fastening means, achute inclined down ward and comprising two parallel plates betweenwhich the button heads are fed downward toward button-fasteningposition, a vibratory button agitator comprising a series of yieldingfingers movable simultaneously upon vibration of the agitator into andout of the chute and acting yieldingly to engage and disengage thebuttons;

and means for vibrating the agitator at predetermined times in theoperation of the machine.

11. A button-fastening machine comprising button-fastening means, achute inclined downward and comprising two parallel plates between whichthe button heads are fed downward toward button-fastening position, avibratory button agitator comprising a series of yielding fingersmovable simultaneously upon vibration of the agitator into and out ofthe chute and acting yieldingly to engage and disengage the buttons, andmeans for vibrating the agitator upon the starting of the machine.

12. A button-fastening machine comprising button-fastening means, achute inclined down- "ward and comprising two parallel plates betweenstopping of the machine. 13. A button-fastening machine comprisingbutton-fastening means, a chute inclined downward and comprising twoparallel plates between which the button heads are fed downward towardbutton-fastening position, a vibratory button agitator comprising aseries of yielding fingers movable simultaneously upon vibration of theagitator into and out of the chute and acting yieldingly to engage anddisengage the buttons,

and means for vibrating the agitator both upon the starting and upon thestopping of the ma.- chine.

14. A button-fastening machine comprising the construction defined inclaim '7, together with means for rendering inoperative the said meansfor preventing the starting of the machine if a button is nottransferred from the chute by the carrier upon the operation of thecarrier thus to enable the machine to be used for barring.

15. A button-fastening machine comprising the construction defined inclaim 8, together with means for rendering inoperative the said meansfor preventing the starting of the machine if the button carrier whenoperated passes beyond button-fastening position thus to enable themachine to be used for barring. a

16. A button fastening machine comprisin the construction defined inclaim 9, together with means for preventing the said latch from lookingthe treadle against depression sufficiently to start the machine when itis desired to utilize the machine for barring.

17. A button-fastening machine comprising the construction defined inclaim 8, together with an arm and means for positioning the arm in thepath of the means for operating the button carrier to prevent the buttoncarrier from passing beyond button-fastening position when it is desiredto utilize the machine for barring.

MINNIE S. ELLIOTT, Emecutria: of the Last Will and Testament of WilliamE. Elliott, Deceased.

